8BA Distributor- Full Race Flathead help

If it's temporary and you're jazzed to hear it run and you're already physically holding a stock dizzy- could you block off one carb with a thin plate then connect the L.A.M. vacuum line to a stock 94 type carb? Would that give you a pretty good idea of the motors other characteristics or be too far off to get a good idea?
 
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A few years back a friend of mine Richard kunc developed a "road rig", Whichk electronically recorded the engine (Any engine) performance under different ignition curves and carburetor AF numbers. ALL this information was published here on the barn several times. The information allows the average guy to properly tune his engine for maximum power and economy. With all this information available, I'm supprised that some of the vendors haven't researched this and made available to their customers. Bubba has offered the adjustable mechanical advance, designed by Richard. This program took several years and many bucks to provide this data which can improve the power and economy of any engine, here is the basic starting point and the resons why.
Initial 2*-4*
Mechanical advance 16* all in by 2000 RPM's
Vacuum advance 8*

AF 14.5-15.5 in cruise
12.5-13.5 WOT

Once you have these numbers into your engine you're in the ball park, differen engine mods or lack there of will determine the final numbers. This information is free from Me and Richard, Hope it helps.
 
So is it now sorted or still in planning stages. Always good to here end results especially considering all helpful comments which have been made.
Phil NZ
 
Something I forgot yo mention, is the use of an AF meter when setting up the advance curve. The timing and carbonation work together. The max advance in cruise is for a lean mixture. Running rich in cruise washes the cylinder walls with excess fuel. causing cylinder and ring wear. This is common is modified fuel systems and shortens the life span of the engine. For some reason I find it hard to lean out multiple Stromburgs and have it run right. Still working on that.
 
Charlie ny said:
Ric,
If Bubba does not have Mallory for you I might be able to help. I have two fresh chevy Mallorys that I converted to 8ba both with the mechanical tach drive. One has the
conventional Mallory 2 piece cap the other began life as a chevy marine distributor and features the typical Ford crab cap....that's correct the Ford style crab cap.....the
crab cap on this one however is a NOS vintage Mallory high dialectric brown cap.
If you are interested shoot me a PM or email any time at your convenience.
Charlie ny
cas5845@yahoo.com
Click to expand...

The Mallory is what you wanted and Charlie has a couple of them......there ya go !!!
 
I feel you are over thinking the the "seeing a Chevy distributor " thing . Just make sure it has a black cap and no one will ever know ,fit the old style cloth wires and it will blend right in. The mallory that Charlie has with the two piece cap is perfect old time distributor. the were available for a flathead anyway.
 
“ Modifying parts for performance, speed, reliability” isn’t that what Hot Rodding is all about?

Besides the Chevy dist doesn’t look that bad in a flathead, and I love the window for setting the dwell while the engine is running!
 

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A-Brougham-Drinkin' said:
If it's temporary and you're jazzed to hear it run and you're already physically holding a stock dizzy- could you block off one carb with a thin plate then connect the L.A.M. vacuum line to a stock 94 type carb? Would that give you a pretty good idea of the motors other characteristics or be too far off to get a good idea?
Click to expand...


Just stick the stock loadamatic in the engine and turn to advance the timing after the engine starts should do the trick...
 
I was thinking about that, if your determined to run the load a matic, it will probably work like a full race distributor with fixed advanced. Except in this case maybe idle and full advance with not much of a curve in between.
 
I just want to pass this bit of info along ,Regarding the Mallory flat cap alternatives ,I found some conventional style distributor caps while moving my late father's parts inventory , The caps are hand written on the box, "Mallory flat cap replacement, made in republic of Germany", according to what I can find out they were used on some recon. engines he supplied to a local government contract or maybe to the mining industry in the late 50's or 60,s, these caps replace the Mallory flat caps that had the two pieces and clamp on gasket to seal from moisture, there most likely still a few around that no one may not know what they are looking at. I didn't find any numbers or name on them, they have the brass terminals, no doubt good quality.
 
If you like the looks of a crab cap on an 8BA, Mallory made some for marine use in a SBC. These can be converted, just like a regular SBC distributor. I have only seen single point versions, but they are plenty good enough for all but the most highly built flathead. I got my last one off eBay for $15.
 
Phil Gillespie said:
So is it now sorted or still in planning stages. Always good to here end results especially considering all helpful comments which have been made.
Phil NZ
Click to expand...

Phil,

I'm gaining on it, since I started this thread I have bought a few cheap Distributors at Local Flea Markets and online. I'm working my way up the food-chain 1st was a $5 8BA with a Dual Point Conversion inc Cap & Wires, next an unfinished incomplete Mallory SBC, Finally an old Flathead V8 Mallory Duel Point, but incomplete has nothing on the Plate i.e. Points etc.
I’m Happy, at least going in the right direction now for a 1940s through back Deuce.
thanks Ric
 
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